Internal quality control in blood and component bank in a tertiary healthcare center in Northern India

Abstract

Quality control describes steps taken by blood and component bank to ensure that tests are performed correctly. Primary goal of quality control is transfusion of safe quality of blood. It is to ensure availability of efficient supply of blood and blood components. Internal quality control is the backbone of quality assurance program. To analyze the internal quality control of blood components in modern blood banking as an indicator of our blood bank performance. An observational cross sectional study conducted at the Blood and Component Bank, JN Medical College and Hospital from 2018 to 2020. Each blood component was arbitrarily chosen during the study on monthly basis. Selection criteria was 1.0% of total collection or minimum 4 bags per month. Packed red cells were evaluated for hemoglobin, hematocrit, RBC count; platelet concentrates for pH, yield and culture; fresh frozen plasma and cryoprecipitate were evaluated for unit volume, factor VIII and fibrinogen concentration. The mean HCT of packed red cells was 65.75+7.42%, volume was 238+26.25ml, Hb was 20.5+0.15g/dL and RBC count of 5.89x10+0.30x10. The mean platelet yield was 5.7x10, pH was ≥6.8+0.175 and volume was 82.5+13.75ml; cultures were negative and swirling was present in all the platelet units tested. Mean factor VIII and fibrinogen levels were found to be 95.25 +7.37and 307.5+41.37gm/l for FFP respectively. Mean volume, PT and APTT were 215+32.5ml, 14.15+0.325 sec and 29.50+1.5 sec respectively. The quality control of blood components ensures the timely availability of a blood component of high quality with maximum efficacy and minimal risk to potential recipients.